Cristina Chirichella will complete her rehabilitation from a severe left knee injury while training alongside Igor Gorgonzola Novara, according to statements released by the Italian volleyball club. The 32-year-old player sustained the injury during the final stretch of the season with Prosecco Doc Antonio Carraro Imoco Conegliano.
Novara’s management confirmed that hosting Chirichella during her recovery is an acknowledgment of her decade-long tenure with the club, where she established herself as a central figure in the team’s history. According to Igor Gorgonzola Novara General Director Enrico Marchioni, the player maintains strong personal and professional ties to the region, prompting the club to welcome her request to use their facilities.
Rehabilitation Plans and Roster Clarification
Club officials explicitly clarified that Chirichella’s presence at Novara is strictly for physical recovery and does not signal a playing contract or serve as a roster reinforcement for the team’s middle-blocker position. Marchioni noted that while her departure two years prior marked a shift in team dynamics, channels of communication remained open.
«Cristina has always declared that Novara is home for her,» Marchioni stated regarding the arrangement. «And although two years ago the sports paths separated, she has maintained excellent relations with all of us and a bond, for personal reasons, with the territory. When she asked to be able to perform rehabilitation with us, we accepted with pleasure. It seems like a right and dutiful thing towards those who have contributed for ten years to write important pages of our history.»
Career Trajectory and Recent Accolades
Chirichella celebrated her 32nd birthday on February 10, following a highly successful two-year stint with Prosecco Doc Antonio Carraro Imoco Conegliano, during which she captured seven major trophies. Her recent resume includes being part of a dominant sweep that featured a world title, a Champions League victory, two domestic league titles (including one with Novara in 2017), two Italian Cups (including one with Novara in 2015), and a Super Cup.
Prior to her injury, Chirichella had signed an agreement to play professionally in Japan. However, the contract was voided following the severe left knee injury she suffered in the closing matches of the Italian Serie A Women’s Volleyball League season.
Looking Ahead at Recovery and Return
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